Secure your fertiliser

Contents

1. Introduction

Since the 1970s nitrogenous fertilisers have been misused in home made explosives. The UK is the heaviest user of ammonium and ammonium nitrate-based fertilisers in the world. The blending, storage, transport and use of fertilisers is commonplace; this creates opportunities for terrorists to acquire such material.

If you store or handle fertiliser, you must secure it to prevent it from being stolen. This covers a range of people from importers and manufacturers to hauliers and agricultural contractors.

Regardless of the amount, it is your responsibility to take appropriate security measures and be vigilant.

You should think about:

restricting access to the fertiliser or the building where it is stored

ensuring a trespasser would be visible if they carried out a crime

making the site as resistant as possible to criminal activity

These can be achieved by simple low-cost measures, such as storing your fertiliser in an enclosed secure barn or, if it is in an open-sided barn, covering it with a tarpaulin. You should also remove or trim hedges or bushes around the barn and keep gates locked.

2.1 Physical security

Well-maintained properties are less interesting to criminals. If a property is kept in good repair, with farmyard rubbish and debris cleared away, you are better able to identify anything out of place.

It is wise to keep a list of useful phone numbers (such as the local police and neighbouring farmers), so that you can quickly contact them if the need arises.

4. Fences and gates

If fertiliser must be stored outside, then it should be kept out of sight of away from public access. Stacks of fertiliser should be covered with heavy-duty waterproof plastic or canvas. However, it might be more effective to build a compound from security fencing, with locking gates.

Recommended types of anti-intruder fences are:

palisade

expanded metal

welded mesh

Fences should conform to British Standard BS 1722-18:2011, which part depends upon the style of fencing required.

Palisade fencing is formed from vertical ‘pales’, often with pointed or splayed tops.
It is popular because it is difficult to peer through and any damage can easily be repaired, with extension pales being simply added. However, palisade fencing offers no greater physical security than either weld mesh or expanded metal fences of the same height.

Expanded metal fences are very rigid and are difficult to cut through, with damage easily spotted. Repairs are likely to require whole panel replacement.

Welded mesh fencing offers good visibility, is difficult to cut and may be suitable for the use with a fence alarm system.

A hostile topping, such as barbed tape or razor wire, serves as an added deterrent to a climbing attack. You’ll need to consider the Occupier’s Liability Act 1984 in relation to the height of the fence and the requirement for signage.

Gates are often the weak link in an otherwise secure area. Gates should be of the same security standard as the fence, and be fitted with anti-lift hinges. Think about the minimising gaps between posts and, in particular, the clearance beneath the bottom edge of the gate.

Gates should be secured with a close-shackle padlock or a standard padlock fitted with a shroud to prevent leverage.

5. Locks

Mortice or sash-type locks (those embedded within a door) offer more security than rim-type locks (those attached to the surface of the door).

5-lever locks are recommended; they have over 1,000 key options, making it unlikely that a duplicate key can be used.

Fitted locks used to secure doors, gates and shutters should conform to BS 3621: 2007+A2: 2011

Padlocks can be open or closed shackle. ‘Open’ refers to the substantial gap between the centre of the shackle and the body of the padlock. It is possible to attack the shackle with a crowbar or pair of bolt croppers. On a closed shackle the space between the shackle and padlock body is much smaller, making it difficult to attack.

When securing doors or pairs of doors (double leaf), a padlock may be used in conjunction with a locking bar or pad bar. These can be horizontal or vertical and should be securely bolted to wooden doors or alternatively welded to metal doors.

Padlocks used to secure such fittings should conform to BS EN 12320:2012 or equivalent.

Padlocks with concealed shackles or raised ‘shoulders’ are recommended since they offer greater resistance to attack. For added security, padlocks can be shrouded to prevent attack using leverage or cutting tools.

Always ensure keys are accounted for and that they are stored securely when not in use.

Do not leave a spare key in a convenient hiding place. It is better to leave a spare set of keys with a neighbour; you could offer to do the same for them.

6. Security lighting

Well thought-out lighting discourages intruders and gives the impression that good security is practised.

Basic lights can be purchased and fitted at little cost, but consider:

cost effectiveness – different lights have varying set-up and running costs (some lights are more suitable for constant illumination, while others are better for combining with passive infrared detectors)

reliability and maintenance requirements

statutory requirements regarding light nuisance

CCTV systems (where fitted) will need sufficient light to be effective 24 hours a day

Lights can be activated by motion sensors or left switched on through the night, although studies have shown that a lower level of continual light is more effective as a deterrent than sudden, bright lights.

A good compromise is to use high-efficiency, low-energy lighting controlled by a photo-electric cell (dusk to dawn switch). This type of light, sited out of reach (perhaps 10 foot above ground level), provides ample illumination, with few shadows and costs only a few pounds a year to run – despite it being left on throughout the night.

7. Vehicles, plant and machinery

You must secure any tools, plant or vehicles that could be used to gain access to your fertiliser store or to remove fertiliser without authority.

You should keep hand tools and power tools locked away when not in use.

Mobile plant and vehicles should be secured and immobilised. This includes lifting machinery, such as forklifts, ‘tele-handlers’ or vehicles fitted with hydraulic loading cranes.

Commercially available vehicle immobilisers (electronic or physical) are very effective and will delay anyone trying to make use of them to force entry into a secure store.

Vehicle keys should be kept safe when not in use. If you have many keys in use, you should maintain a key list and routinely check that they can be accounted for.

Consider using heavy agricultural machinery (such as buckets, power harrows or other large machines) to restrict direct vehicular access to stacks of sheeted fertiliser, particularly if the fertiliser cannot be stored in a secure building or compound.